Alberta is already a global leader in key industries the world counts on including energy, agriculture, transportation, forestry, tourism, healthcare and technology. We must nourish these industries into innovation superclusters that Canada and world can turn to for leadership and expertise.

Actions:

Enable our base industries to adapt and thrive

Alberta has everything we need to forge a brilliant future – acknowledged as one of the best places to live, work and play. We need to work together, create a plan and focus our energies on building the best possible environment for our base industries to adapt and thrive.

• Bring together key stakeholders in collaborative networks. Create special economic zones to further spur growth of the agriculture, transportation, forestry, tourism, healthcare and technology ecosystems. For example, a Natural Resources Innovation Fund to enable investment and ecosystem establishment for mid-size technology companies in Alberta.
• Continue to aggressively dismantle internal trade barriers. This should include a focus on harmonizing rules in transport, liquor, and skills recognition. We support the Government of Alberta continuing to urge provinces to join the New West Partnership Trade Agreement.

Develop our natural resources and solve climate change simultaneously.

We ask our political leaders to set aside ideology and demonstrate collaborative, accountable leadership that puts our country first. We need this to answer the most fundamental question: how do we develop our natural resources AND fight climate change, to the benefit of the Canadians they serve.

• Establish a national vision for Canada’s natural resources. Government, civil society and business must come together and set the future course for our economy and the environment. For example, The Calgary and Edmonton Chambers are part of a coalition of eight large city chambers and boards of trade across the country that launched the Canadians for Natural Resources initiative as part of our Canadian Global Cities Council.
• Establish a provincial task force. To provide recommendations to promote the responsible and sustainable development of Alberta’s natural resources while contributing to the global fight against climate change.
• Develop initiatives like the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Implementation (TIER). TIER encourages industrial facilities to find innovative ways to reduce emissions and invest in clean technology to stay competitive.